Acoustical device



June 11, 1929. j w, GQNCE ACOUSTICAL DEVICE Filed Marc h 25, 1928 2 Sheets5heet 1 June 11, J. w GONCE ACOUSTICAL DEVICE Filed March 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .fo/ziz 77.501266.

BY W

AT TORNEYS Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN WISDOM GONCE, OF ANDERSON, TENNESSEE.

ACOUSTICAL DEVICE.

Application filed March 23, 1928.

This invention relates to an acoustical device.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an acoustical device embodying novel features of construction enabling deaf persons, or persons hard of hearing, to hear through the teeth.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and. advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a device showing one embodiment of 5 the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

F 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of device.

Fig. A is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 14 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another modified form of device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 and lookin g in the direction indicated by the arrows.

deferring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and it will be apparent that, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, the device will include a sound box 10 of the type used in phonographs. The sound box 10 has a horn 11. and a vibratory member or sound sitive diaphragm 12. The diaphragm 12 has connected therewith a lever or needle bar 13 pivctally connected with the rim of the box by pivots 14 respectively carried by lugs 15 on a plate 16 secured to the box. It. is to be 0 inidcrstoml that it is within the present invention to either fasten the lever or bar 13 to the sound box. or be merely held in contact with the sound sensitive diaphragm. A rigid arm 1'7 is fastened. to the sound box 10 or may be formed integral therewith. The said. arm 17 may be made either of wood or metal. A viln'atory rigid dentiphone arm 18 is associated with the sound box 10 and the arm 17 for the purpose of receiving vibrations, or impacts coupled with torsion, so that when the month end of th arm 18 is gripped between the teeth, sound vibrations will be transmitted to the osseous tissue enabling a deaf person, or a person hard of hearing to hear. The arm 18 may be made from any suitable resonant material, either of metal, wood, hard rubber,

Serial No. 264,009.

or any combination of these materials. The arm 18 may be of any preferred proportion and shape. The outer or receiving end of the denti phone or arm 18 is in contact with the axis of the bar 13 and is fastened thereto by suitable fastening means such as a screw and nut 19. The opposite end of the dentiphone 1S so formed as to be readily held between the teeth and will therefore have a bit 20. The end of the arm 17 near the bit 20 has a bridge 21 against which the dentiphone 18 is firmly held by a bow 22 fastened to the arm 17. The bridge 21 may be made of suitable material to act as a cushion. arranged between the bow 22 and the dentiphone 18 and this block also is made of suitable material to act as a cushion. The pressure exerted on the dentiphone by the bridge 21 and block 23 will only slightly impede the action of the lever or needle bar 13. It will now be understood that when the bit 20 is held between the teeth by a deaf person or a person hard of hearing, such person will be enable d to hear speech and other sounds entering the horn 11.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be apparent that there has been shown a modified form of the invention in which the dentiphone arm 18 is associated with a conical vibratory element or resonant diaphragm 2-1, and the mouthpiece or bit 25 is disposed at an angle so that the diaphragm 2-1 may rest on the breast of the user. In other respects this form of device will be substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and. 2.

In F igs. 5 and 6 there is shown a still further modified form of the invention in which the rigid arm 26 is fastened at one end. as at 27 to a post 98 mounted on a suitable base 29 having rollers 30. Rigidly connected with the arm 26 and the post 28 is a panel 3 Arranged on the panel 31 is a resonant element or sound sensitive diaphragm 32 of cone shape. A vibratory bar 33 connected at one end with the diaphragm 32 at a central point, as at and the opposite end is pivotally connected by pivots 35 respectively carried by lugs 36 formed on a plate 37 rigidly fastened to the arm 26. The dentiphone arm 18 has the receiving end thereof fastened to the bar 33 by suitable fastening means such as the screw and nut 38 over the axis of the bar In other respects this form of device is similar to that of the other forms hereinabove described.

It is to be understood that the invention is A block 23 is h not restricted to the precise arrangement of parts shown and described, as details of construction may be modified and rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An acoustical device comprising a sound box including a sound sensitive diaphragm, and a lever vibrated by said diaphragm; a. rigid arm rigidly fastened to said sound box, and a dentiphone arm positioned on said first mentioned arm to receive vibrations from said lever, and'said dentiphone arm adapted to be held between the teeth of the user of the device for the purpose of hearing.

2. An acoustical device comprising a sound box including a sound sensitive diaphragm, and a lever vibrated by said diaphragm; a rigid arm rigidly fastened to said sound box, and a dentiphone arm positioned on said first mentioned arm and cushioned by means between both arms, said dentiphone arm adapted to receive vibrations from said lever, and said dentiphone arm adapted to be held between the teeth of the user of the device for the purpose of hearing.

3. An acoustical device sound box including a sound sensitive diaphragm, and a lever vibrated by said dia phragm; a rigid arm rigidly fastened to said sound box, and a dentiphone arm, said comprising a dentiphone arm positioned on said rigid arm, one end of said dentiphone arm being in contact with said lever so that the denti phone arm will be vibrated by said lever, and the opposite end of said dentiphone arm having a mouthpiece adapted to be held between the teeth of the user of thedevice for the purpose of hearing.

4. An acoustical device comprising a sound box including a sound sensitive diaphragm, and a lever vibrated by said diaphragm; a rigid arm rigidly fastened to said sound box, and a dentiphone arm positioned on said first mentioned arm and cushioned by means carried by said first mentioned arm and contacting with the dentiphone arm at opposite sides thereof, said dentiphone arm being adapted to be held between the teeth of the user of the device for the purpose of hearing.

5. In an acoustical device, sound sensitive neans in combination with a dentiphone arm responsive to the sound sensitive means, said dentiphone arm having an angularly disposed mouthpiece adapted to be held between the teeth of the user ofthe device with the sound sensitive means against the breast of the user to enable the user to hear.

Signed at lWliami in the county of Dade and State of Florida this 19th day of March, A. D. 1928.

JOHN Wrsnora eouon. 

